Worldly-Mindedness a Snare
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your talents and influence. Your inclinations have been a snare to
you. You have not followed the light that God has graciously given
you in testimonies; and you have done things that without repentance
and reformation on your part will exclude you from heaven. Had you
heeded the reproofs sent to you by the Holy Spirit you would now
be strong in God and far advanced in Christian experience, and you
would have had an entirely different record in the books of heaven.
“He that rejecteth Me,” says Christ, “and receiveth not My words,
hath One that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day.” In that day what shame and confusion of
face will cover those who have had such light and privileges, who have
had salvation brought within their reach by the infinite sacrifice of the
Son of God, and yet have not availed themselves of these precious
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gifts. Through His word God is constantly pointing out to us the right
path, even the high and glorious path of the just. The travelers in
this path do not walk in darkness, for it is illuminated by the Sun of
Righteousness; but you have rejected it because it was too far separated
from the world. Self-love and selfish ambition cannot pass the strait
gate and walk the narrow, upward way.
It will be found in the day of final settlement that God was ac-
quainted with everyone by name. There is an unseen witness to every
action of the life. “I know thy works,” says He that “walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” It is known what opportunities
have been slighted, how untiring have been the efforts of the Good
Shepherd to search out those who were wandering in crooked ways,
and to bring them back to the path of safety and peace. Again and
again God has called after the pleasure lovers; again and again He has
flashed the light of His word across their path, that they might see their
peril, and escape. But on and on they go, jesting and joking as they
travel the broad road, until at length their probation is ended. God’s
ways are just and equal; and when sentence is pronounced against
those who are found wanting, every mouth will be stopped.
How different it would now be with you both had you regarded in
their true light the praise and honor that come from men. You both
thirst more for the praise of the world than for the waters of life. The
idea of being thought of importance among men of the world has
intoxicated you; their words of esteem have deceived you. When you
place a right estimate on eternal things, the friendship and esteem of